US1800980A

US1800980A - Stringed musical instrument

Info

Publication number: US1800980A
Application number: US354588A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank C Berry; Frank L Hedges
Original assignee: Frank C Berry; Frank L Hedges
Priority date: 1929-04-12
Filing date: 1929-04-12
Publication date: 1931-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 1948-04-14

Description

April 14, 193 F. c. BERRY ET AL 1,800,980

STRINGED MUS I CAL INSTRUMENT Filed April 12. 1929' gymntohs Fran/Z C, Ber;- Frank J. fled ges,

Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed April 12,

The present invention relates to improvements in musical instruments of the string type such as guitars, mandolins, violins, cellos, violas and the like.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a musical instrument wherein means is provided for producing a rich resonant tone without liability of the tone becoming marred, at the same time, the tone of the instrument will be intensified o Another important object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument of the above-mentioned character that is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and further well adapted for the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. I

In the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the same;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a violin embodying our invention, parts of the invention being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the violin with our improved attachment associated therewith; and

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken ap proximately on the line 33 of Figure 1.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral 1 designates generally the box or body of a violin, the same including the top or belly 2 and the back or bottom 3, these elements being connected by a continuous rim or'band 4 in the manner well known in the art. Formed in the top or belly 2 are the conventional sound emitting holes 5 which are of S configuration.

Our attachment for amplifying the tone includes the provision of the funnel-shaped sound receiving units 6 and 7 respectively that are arranged at the respective ends of the box or body 1 and upon referring to Figure 2 it will beobserved that the top and bottom faces of these sound receiver units 1929. Serial No. 354,588.

are spaced with respect to the top and bottom 2 and 3 respectively.

Partitions 8 and 9 respectively are arranged within the box l for disposition adjacent the respective sidesof the box and the upper and lower edges of these strips engage with the inner opposed faces of the top and bottom walls 2 and 3 respectively. F urthermore these partitions are spaced with respect to the rim 4 by suitable spacing blocks shown 6 at 10 whereby to provide a continuous sound chamber or passage 11. The inner ends of these partitions 8 and 9 merge with the inner ends of the respective side walls of the funnelshaped sound receiving unit 6 and in a simia5 lar manner, the opposite ends of these partitions 8 and 9 merge with the adjacent ends of the side walls of the other sound receiving unit 7.

These partitions are formed with the sound emitting slots 12 that are preferably located adjacent the bout portions of the box 1 and below the sound emitting holes 5 so that when the musical instrument is played, the sound waves will enter the respective receiver 76 units 6 and 7 and will travel within the sound passage or chamber 11 and the sound waves are discharged through the slots at 12 and finally through the S-shaped holes 5 in an amplified manner.

While we have shown the attachment as being associated with a violin, it is to be understood that the same can equally as well be used upon any other stringed instrument for the purpose of intensifying or amplifying ,35 the tone and strengthening and sweetening the same.

While we have shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

lVe claim:

1. A stringed musical instrument body .95 comprising a box-like structure having a top with an opening therein and a bottom and a connecting rim therebetween, an amplifier including a sound-receiving unit arranged within the box at each end thereof, partiv tions arranged between the top and bottom of the box and spaced inwardly of the rim, the ends of the partitions being connected to the sides of the sound-receiver unit to form a continuous sound passage, said partitions being formed with sound emitting openings adjacent the sound emitting opening in the top of the body.

2. A stringed musical instrument body comprising a box-like structure having a top with an opening therein and a bottom and a connecting rim therebetween, an amplifier including a sound-receiving unit arranged within the box at each end thereof, partitions arranged between the top and bot-tom of the box and spaced inwardly of the rim, the ends of the partitions being connected to the sides of the sound-receiver unit to form a continuous 1 sound passage, Sald' partltions being formed with sound emitting openings adj acent the sound emitting opening in the top of the body, each of the sound-receiver units being of horn-shaped formation.

3. A stringed musical instrument body comprising a box-like structure having a top with an opening therein and a bottom and a connecting rim therebetween, an amplifier including a sound-receiving unit arranged within the box at each end thereof, partitions arranged between the top and bottom of the box and spaced inwardly of the rim, the ends of the'partitions being connected to the sides of the sound-receiver unitto form a continuous sound passage, said partitions being formed with sound emitting openings adjacent the sound emitting opening in the top of the body, each of the sound-receiver units being of horn-shaped formation, the top and bottom walls of each receiver unit being disposed inparallel spaced relation with respect to each other and being spaced with respect to the topand bottom of the body.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

FRANK G. BERRY. ,FRANK L. HEDGES.